For the college students of Middlebury College, pulling an all - nighter will seriously be a nightmare since the authorities have banned the sales of popular energy drinks like Red Bull and 5 - Hour ENERGY.
According to college officials, the drinks were contributing to "problematic behavior", which included alcohol abuse, and "high - risk sexual activity". Additionally, they also mentioned that the energy drinks do not contribute to the mission of the dining service, i.e., to "nourish" the students.
A prominent flyer in the college's Wilson Cafe states, "Energy drink consumption facilitates unhealthy work habits such as prolonged periods of sleeplessness, contributing to a campus culture of stress and unsustainable study habits."
The authorities of the college also linked these drinks with increasing likelihood that students drive drunk and use other "intoxicating" substances.
However, students are not happy with this dictum, and are pushing back, and to some extent blatantly disobeying the authorities.
Arnav Adhikari, a 22-year-old senior from India who works at the cafe, said he used to sell "loads" of the drinks, and the college is over-reaching its role.
"There are more important things for them to address," he told NBC News. "And what do energy drinks have to do with sexual activity?"
The ban was approved by the college's Community Council, which includes faculty, staff and 12 students.
Health experts agree that energy drinks, when abused, are at best unhealthy, and at worst dangerous: Even just one 16-ounce energy drink can increase blood pressure and stress hormones and could put a healthy young adult at risk for heart damage, concludes a 2015 Mayo Clinic study.
Red Bull lists its caffeine content as 80 milligrams for each of its 8.4-ounce cans - about the same amount as an 8-ounce cup of coffee.
A Regular Strength 5-hour ENERGY shot contains about the same caffeine content as a 12-ounce cup, according to its website. Both contain vitamins and other additives.
However, none was available for comments about Middlebury's decision to ban the respective drinks.
